So the Green Bay Packers took a chance on a troubled, but talented player on Monday when they signed former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla.
This guy basically messed up his entire college career due to brushes with the law and quitting the team. That’s why he went undrafted and why he had to earn a contract through a tryout with the Packers.
Well, Ted Thompson gave him that contract, as he’s done with troubled players in the past. And we’re cool with that because we believe in second chances. Besides, if it doesn’t work you just cut the guy and that’s that.
If it does work, then you maybe get a future star.
But not everyone sees it that way. Especially people who walk around with a stick jammed up their ass.
The Journal Sentinel’s Bob McGinn is seemingly leading the anti-Lyerla charge.
Rest assured 31 other NFL teams raised eyebrows and wondered about leadership/direction in Green Bay after the signing of TE Lyerla.
— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) May 20, 2014
Really? I highly fucking doubt that.
The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions certainly didn’t. Those two teams are home to more criminals than anyone in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys, employers of Mr. Character Issues himself, Dez Bryant?
How about the Miami Dolphins? Oh, they now employ three guys who were kicked off their college teams and a fourth who was suspended for a year.
Maybe the Cincinnati Bengals? Oh, no. Both Vontaze Burfict, who tested positive for weed at the combine, and Jeremy Hill, who’s actually on probation until next year, have jobs with that team.
You know, I could go on, but you get the picture.
My point is this: If 31 NFL teams are shaking their heads at the Packers today, they need to look in the damn mirror first.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 20, 2014
Precisely.
The Packers, of course, have given guys second chances before. They re-signed Johnny Jolly after he got out of prison on a drug conviction. McGinn would point out that Jolly was a member of the team for four years before he went away and that Lyerla has only been in Green Bay for four days.
Well… The Tedster also gave receiver Koren Robinson a second chance back in 2006. Robinson was released by the Vikings after leading police on a high-speed chase. He was also facing an NFL suspension for his third violation of the substance abuse policy.
And how many days was he in town before the Packers signed him? Zero.
But let’s forget about that because McGinn obviously has.
Almost every franchise has been in the gutter before. Win at all costs defines NFL just like it defined #Packers Mon. So risky. Just say no.
— Bob McGinn (@BobMcGinn) May 20, 2014
I don’t get it, but obviously, in some people’s eyes (maybe just one person’s), the Lyerla signing is a stain on the whole organization.
Well, fuck that. If the kid can play and stay out of trouble, then why shouldn’t he have a chance? And what better place for him to get a chance than in Green Bay?
On another note, he’s my favorite tweet about Lyerla today.
We were surprised @packers passed on a TE in the draft, if a roll of the dice on Colt Lyerla works, he was the best talent at the position
— mattmoneysmith (@mattmoneysmith) May 20, 2014
Money obviously is unaware that the Packers drafted Richard Rodgers in the third round. Whoops!
Am I hypocrite for being OK with this move, but totally happy that Finley isn’t on the team and likely won’t be resigned?
I don’t care. Finley has been given millions and had a million chances to turn around. It’s his fault, no one else’s.
What….are you talking about.
I’m sick to death of Finley. What’s the confusion?
Confused because there’s hardly any reason to be ‘sick to death’ of Finley, especially after his performance and improved attitude before he got severely injured last year.
It was a contract year.
And even if he really did improve his attitude, he still wants 8 mil a year. He won’t take a pay-cut.
He’s injury-prone. He runs his mouth. He’s greedy. Enough is a enough.
I agree completely Chad, about Finley and about Colt.
People still freaked out about Aaron Hernandez and all his “red” flags.
His biggest problem for a lot of people actually seems to be his tweet about the Sandy Hook massacre. Don’t agree with the tweet at all but I can understand where that tweet came from having some very active gun rights supporters in my family. They are very paranoid about ANY shooting that occurs which could be used as a pretense to take away their guns. They actually do think democrats are staging some of these shootings to get the public riled up… yikes.
I think the kid deserves a chance… I mean its not like he beat his wife or girlfriend… that of course seems to be perfectly OK in today’s NFL.
Drugs and Tweets? KEEP HIM OUT!
Well, in these months people don’t have many subjects to talk about….
Let them talk…
I sincerely believe that our GM and our coach know very well what they are doing with this signing…
Money Smith with his West Coast bias missed that? He must think of Dick Rodgers as more of a receiver than a TE apparently.
The Packers have invited 90 guys to training camp. Lyerla happens to be one of them. Until Lyerla actually makes the 53 man roster it is a little early to react either way.
The Packers are a high character organization and one Lyerla doesn’t change that.
My only concern is that I believe the saying goes- Once a cokehead, always a cokehead.
Fuck these republicans. Cocaine’s a hell of a drug….
Yeah Dear Leader Obama agrees.
Long as he keeps his mouth shut and just plays ball, I don’t mind him. He could be the best TE we’ve had in a long time if he just stays out of trouble.
The real concern should be quitting on his team. Quitting when the going gets tough is not a good sign in any sport let alone the NFL.
The risk at this time is minor. The real critical decision will be if you put Lyeria on the final 53. Ted and the coaches now are afforded the time to make that decision with more hands on review.
Talent trumps all. Chris Carter, Warren Sapp and countless other player who were trouble. There is little at risk giving this guy a shot. We all make mistakes and he is a kid who had a messed up family life. Everyone is a judge. You’d want a second chance.
The no fun league and it’s high horse ride again!
Yeah because no other players ever got a second chance after cocaine. Only Michael Irvin, Cris Carter, Jamal Lewis, Bam Morris and the list goes on. Hell Donte Stallworth got another chance in the league after killing someone. He deserves at least one shot in the NFL. If he screws up see ya later.
pompous hypocrisy is easy find, particularly in the media. I’m thinking 31 other GMs are thinking that they might have missed on a good TE that comes cheap. But the dude has to prove himself, and the 53 is a LONG way away. We’ve all made mistakes, so you know, who gets to cast the first stone? Maybe a check in the mirror before the wind up?
I think McGinn has a fucking brain tumor. First the ‘No AR? No Problem’ article and now this?
No other team in the NFL was willing to roll the dice on this guy if the Packers didn’t? Yeah, right.
Time to trade in that horse with the lofty perch for one that’s a little shorter, Bob.
McGinn is highly overrated. He thinks quite highly of himself, more than is justified. That AR article–which jinxed us–proves it. And this proves it.
What a bunch of silly shit.
Raised eyebrows?
Risk?
Yes, if he was a first-round selection. But then that’s not the case.
Hypocrisy?
Every. single. team. excuses a ton of BS… if a guy can contribute.
This guy is as no-risk as it comes.
Likely signed for next to nothing, with nothing guaranteed.
There could be a remote possibility of a few contractual clauses governing drugs, behavior, etc.
Besides, for the first few games he’ll likely be running around on kickoffs anyway.
I neever mayde a misteak.
yea, me two
^ brilliant
REALLY WHAT A FRIGGEN JOKE SO U SO CALLED FANS ARE NOT GONNA BE BANGIN HIS NAME WHEN HES ARE NUMBER ONE RED ZONE TARGET
Fucking racist bullshit. How many brothers got drafted that have records, messed up a ton of times, or cant spell their names? A white boy gets in trouble and the Packers are selling their morals signing him? Shit I love Coke. I dont do it because im an addictive mother fucker and coke gets a hold of your nuts and messages them every night like Elton John at a Velvet Club on King Henry St. in Britain. But man so what the white boy likes blow? How many brothers drafted this year smoke weed like they are evaping?
Look the guy comes to GB, kicks ass, stays clean and dont mess up any fat white chics, hes my homey.
This could be a steal. Hell of an athlete. Runs like a rb after the catch
I think people need to curb their expectations of potential a little for this guy.Even when he did play this last year he had trouble catching the football, although his previous year was great and Oregon has not utilized the TE position as much as other programs. Colt isn’t the 1st or last cocky athlete, hopefully a little reality check the last 8 months and a fresh start he can put all his ability together on and off the field.
There are several folks who think Colt was the second best TE in the draft. This is a steal for the Packers. The only reason he didn’t go to go to and east or west coast team was because their states are more liberal than Wisconsin and they would upset their fan base, so they didn’t pursue him. If Colt hadn’t said something political, he’s be snapped up by Seattle or New England in a second, even with the drug charges.